UCP3 genes

ABSTRACT

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to a novel family of UCP3 polypeptides and related nucleic acids involved in metabolic regulation. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed mUCP3 encoding nucleic acids or purified from mammalian cells. The invention provides isolated mUCP3 hybridization probes, knock-out/in constructs and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed mUCP3 genes, mUCP3-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, animals and cells modified with the subject mUCP3 nucleic acids, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in the biopharmaceutical industry.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Div. of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/318,199, filed, May 25, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,469), which is a Div. of Ser. No.09/172,528, filed Oct. 14, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,469), which is a Div. of Ser. No. 08/937,466, filed on Sep. 25, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,779).

INTRODUCTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of this invention is UCP3 genes and their use in biotechnology.

2. Background

A mitochondrial protein called uncoupling protein (UCP1) is thought to play an important role in the body's regulation of energy utilization. Such regulation provides wide spread physiological controls including body weight, appetite, glucose metabolism, temperature, immune responses, etc. Mechanistically, UCP1 is thought to create a pathway that allows dissipation of the proton electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane in brown adipose tissue, without coupling to any other energy consuming process (for review, see Nicholis & Locke (1984) Physiol Rev 64, 1-64). Unfortunately, the role of UCP1 in physiologies such as body weight regulation in large adult mammals such as people, cattle, pigs, etc. is likely to be limited, since there is little brown adipose tissue in such animals.

UCP2 is a second, related uncoupling protein that is much more widely expressed in large adult mammals (see, e.g. Fleury et al. (1997) Nature Genetics 15, 269-272 and Tartaglia et al. (1996) WO96/05861). Consistent with a role in the regulation of energy utilization generally, and in diabetes and obesity in particular, the UCP2 gene is upregulated in response to fat feeding and maps to regions of the human and mouse genomes linked to hyperinsulinaemia and obesity. More recently, a third structurally related UCP gene, hUCP3 has been charaterized and found to be preferentially expressed in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissues; see, Vidal-Puig et al. (1997) BBRC 235, 79-82 and Boss et al. (1997) FEBS Letters 408, 39-42.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to isolated mUCP3 polypeptides, related nucleic acids, polypeptide domains thereof having mUCP3-specific structure and activity and modulators of mUCP3 function. mUCP3 polypeptides and modulators of mUCP3 expresssion and/or function can regulate mitochodrial respiration and hence provide important regulators of cell metabolism and function. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells or extracts from the subject mUCP3 polypeptide encoding nucleic acids or purified from mammalian cells. The invention provides isolated mUCP3 hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed mUCP3 genes, mUCP3-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis (e.g. genetic hybridization screens for mUCP3 transcripts) and in the biopharmaceutical industry (e.g. as immunogens, reagents for isolating other transcriptional regulators, knockin/out vectors, transgenic animals anc cell lines, reagents for screening chemical libraries for lead pharmacological agents, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the amino acid sequence of a mUCP3a polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:2), indicating mUCP3a-specific sequences and domains in common with hUCP3.

FIGS. 2a-2d shows the nucleotide sequence of a mUCP3a-encoding cDNA (SEQ ID NO:1), indicating mUCP3a-specific sequences and domains in common with hUCP3.

FIG. 3 shows the structures of mUCP3 isoforms a, b and c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary nucleotide sequences of natural cDNAs encoding mUCP3 polypeptides are shown as SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 and 5, and their full conceptual translates are shown as SEQ ID NOS:2, 4 and 6, respectively. The mUCP3 polypeptides of the invention include incomplete translates of SEQ ID NOS:1, 3 and 5 which translates and deletion mutants of SEQ ID NOS:2, 4 and 6 have mUCP3-specific amino acid sequence, binding specificity or function. Preferred translates/deletion mutants comprise at least a 6, preferably at least an 8, more preferably at least a 10, most preferably at least a 12 residue domain of the translates not found in hUCP3. Such domains are readily discernable from alignments of mUCP3 polypeptides and hUCP3. See, e.g. FIG. 1 for the mUCP3a amino acid domains in common (bold) and not in common with hUCP3 and FIGS. 2a-2d for the mUCP3a nucleic acid domains in common (bold) and not in common with the nucleic acid domains of hUCP3.

The subject domains provide mUCP3 domain specific activity or function which are conveniently determined in vitro, cell-based, or in vivo assays: e.g. in vitro binding assays, cell culture assays, in animals (e.g. gene therapy, transgenics, etc.), etc. mUCP3-binding specificity may assayed by binding equilibrium constants (usually at least about 10⁷M⁻¹, preferably at least about 10⁸M⁻¹, more preferably at least about 10⁹M⁻¹), by the ability of the subject polypeptide to function as negative mutants in mUCP3-expressing cells, to elicit mUCP3 specific antibody in a heterologous host (e.g a rabbit), etc. In any event, the mUCP3 binding specificity of the subject mUCP3 polypeptides necessarily distinguishes that of hUCP3. Preferred peptides demonstrate mUCP3 domain specific activity as assayed by respiratory uncoupling activity, ATP-binding or binding inhibitory activity, mUCP3-specific antibody binding, etc. For example, mUCP3 domain peptides with assay demonstrable mUCP3 domain-specific activities include: SEQ ID NO:2, residues 3-12; SEQ ID NO:2, residues 37-58; SEQ ID NO:2, residues 100-115; SEQ ID NO:2, residues 144-158; SEQ ID NO:2, residues 182-198; SEQ ID NO:2, residues 198-209 SEQ ID NO:2, residues 242-266; SEQ ID NO:2, residues 268-290; and SEQ ID NO:2, residues 297-308.

The subject mUCP3 polypeptides are isolated or pure: an “isolated” polypeptide is unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is associated in its natural state. Isolated polypeptides encompass UCP3 polypeptides covalently joined to a non-natural or heterologous component, such as a non-natural amino acid or amino acid sequence or a natural amino acid or sequence other than that which the polypeptide is joined to in a natural protein, and preferably constitutes at least about 0.5%, and more preferably at least about 5% by weight of the total polypeptide in a given sample and a pure polypeptide constitutes at least about 90%, and preferably at least about 99% by weight of the total polypeptide in a given sample. A polypeptide, as used herein, is an polymer of amino acids, generally at least 6 residues, preferably at least about 10 residues, more preferably at least about 25 residues, most preferably at least about 50 residues in length. The mUCP3 polypeptides and polypeptide domains may be synthesized, produced by recombinant technology, or purified from mammalian, preferably murine cells. A wide variety of molecular and biochemical methods are available for biochemical synthesis, molecular expression and purification of the subject compositions, see e.g. Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook, et al. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Eds. Ausubel, et al., Greene Publ. Assoc., Wiley-Interscience, N.Y.) or that are otherwise known in the art.

For example, the invention provides a method of making a polypeptide comprising the steps of introducing an isolated or recombinant nucleic acid encoding a subject polypeptide into a host cell or cellular extract, incubating said host cell or extract under conditions whereby said nucleic acid is expressed as a transcript and said transcript is expressed as a translation product comprising said polypeptide, and isolating said translation product.

The invention provides binding agents specific to the claimed mUCP3 polypeptides, including substrates, agonists, antagonists, natural intracellular binding targets, etc., methods of identifying and making such agents, and their use in pharmaceutical development. Novel mUCP3-specific binding agents include mUCP3-specific receptors, such as somatically recombined polypeptide receptors like specific antibodies or T-cell antigen receptors (see, e.g Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) and other natural intracellular binding agents identified with assays such as one-, two- and three-hybrid screens, non-natural intracellular binding agents identified in screens of chemical libraries such as described below, etc. Agents of particular interest modulate mUCP3 function, e.g. mUCP3-dependent respiratory coupling.

Accordingly, the invention provides methods for modulating respiration involving an mUCP3 gene product comprising the step of modulating mUCP3 activity, e.g. by contacting the cell with an mUCP3-specific binding agent. The cell may reside in culture or in situ, i.e. within the natural host. Preferred inhibitors are orally active in mammalian hosts. For diagnostic uses, the inhibitors or other mUCP3 binding agents are frequently labeled, such as with fluorescent, radioactive, chemiluminescent, or other easily detectable molecules, either conjugated directly to the binding agent or conjugated to a probe specific for the binding agent.

The amino acid sequences of the disclosed mUCP3 polypeptides are used to back-translate mUCP3 polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids optimized for selected expression systems (Holler et al. (1993) Gene 136, 323-328; Martin et al. (1995) Gene 154, 150-166) or used to generate degenerate oligonucleotide primers and probes for use in the isolation of natural mUCP3-encoding nucleic acid sequences (“GCG” software, Genetics Computer Group, Inc, Madison Wis.). mUCP3-encoding nucleic acids used in mUCP3-expression vectors and incorporated into recombinant host cells, e.g. for expression and screening, transgenic animals, e.g. for functional studies such as the efficacy of candidate drugs for disease associated with mUCP3-modulated cell function, etc.

The invention also provides nucleic acid hybridization probes, knockin/out constructs and replication/amplification primers having a mUCP3 cDNA specific sequence comprising SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3 and 5, or fragments thereof, and sufficient to effect specific hybridization thereto (i.e. specifically hybridize with SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3 and 5 in the presence of the UCP 1, UCP2 and hUCP3 cDNA. Such primers or probes are at least 12, preferably at least 24, more preferably at least 36 and most preferably at least 96 bases in length. Demonstrating specific hybridization generally requires stringent conditions, for example, hybridizing in a buffer comprising 30% formamide in 5×SSPE (0.18 M NaCl, 0.01 M NaPO₄, pH7.7, 0.001 M EDTA) buffer at a temperature of 42° C. and remaining bound when subject to washing at 42° C. with 0.2×SSPE; preferably hybridizing in a buffer comprising 50% formamide in 5×SSPE buffer at a temperature of 42° C. and remaining bound when subject to washing at 42° C. with 0.2×SSPE buffer at 42° C. mUCP3 nucleic acids can also be distinguished using alignment algorithms, such as BLASTX (Altschul et al. (1990) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, J Mol Biol 215, 403-410).

The subject nucleic acids are of synthetic/non-natural sequences and/or are isolated, i.e. unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is associated in its natural state, preferably constituting at least about 0.5%, preferably at least about 5% by weight of total nucleic acid present in a given fraction, and usually recombinant, meaning they comprise a non-natural sequence or a natural sequence joined to nucleotide(s) other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome. Recombinant nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3 and 5, or fragments thereof contain such sequence or fragment at a terminus, immediately flanked by (i.e. contiguous with) a sequence other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome, or flanked by a native flanking region fewer than 10 kb, preferably fewer than 2 kb, which is at a terminus or is immediately flanked by a sequence other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome. While the nucleic acids are usually RNA or DNA, it is often advantageous to use nucleic acids comprising other bases or nucleotide analogs to provide modified stability, etc.

The subject nucleic acids find a wide variety of applications including use as translatable transcripts, hybridization probes, PCR primers, diagnostic nucleic acids, knockin/out constructsetc.; use in detecting the presence of mUCP3 genes and gene transcripts and in detecting or amplifying nucleic acids encoding additional mUCP3 homologs and structural analogs. In diagnosis, mUCP3 hybridization probes find use in identifying wild-type and mutant mUCP3 alleles in clinical and laboratory samples. In a particular embodiment, mUCP3 nucleic acids are used to modulate cellular expression or intracellular concentration or availability of active mUCP3 by binding and/or recombining with an endogenous mUCP3 gene or gene transcript. Methods for effecting anti-sense hyridization, homologous and non-homologous recombinations, and generating transgenic animals and cell lines are well-established in the art.

The following experimental section and examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

EXAMPLES

1. Cloning of mUCP3 cDNAs

We searched murine EST databases using human UCP2 cDNA sequence to identify a cDNA with sequence similarity to known human and mouse UCP2 cDNA sequences. Isolated, cloning and sequencing of this clone revealed a novel gene designated mUCP3, with greatest sequence similarity to a human UCP3 gene. Since the clone lacked the 5′ end UTR and part of the coding sequence, we designed a primer for 5′ end RACE of the cDNA sequence using mouse skeletal muscle cDNA (PCR condition: 95 OC, 40 sec, 55 OC 2 min, 72 OC, 3 min for 30 cycles). Several clones from the RACE PCR contain sequences that overlap with the partial cDNA sequence. A EcoRI tagged forward primer and Xbal tagged reverse primer were used to amplify the full mUCP3 cDNA using mouse skeletal muscle cDNA. A 2.8 kb mUCP3 cDNA was amplified and cloned into pBlue-Script SK. Several smaller fragments (1.5-2 kb) detected in the PCR products in lesser quantities were also cloned and DNA sequencing confirmed that they were alternatively spliced forms of mUCP3 cDNA.

The largest mUCP3 cDNA (mUCP3a) is 2,782 bp long, containing 239 bp 5′ end untranslated region, a 816 bp ORF and 1.7 kb 3′ end UTR. The mRNA transcript is about 2.8 kb and the translation product contains 308 amino acid residues. It is 85% identical to the hUCP3 and 73% and 54% identical to mUCP2 and mUCP1, respectively, indicating a similar functional roles in uncoupling mitochondrial respiration. Two shorter isoforms, mUCP3b and mUCP3c are 1,949 bp and 1,777 bp, with translation products of 432 and 256 amino acid residues respectively (see, FIG. 3).

2. Expression of mUCP3 cDNAs

Because of the extensive DNA sequence homology between our mUCP3 genes and mUCP2, we designed a set of primers designed for PCR amplification of a 335 bp mUCP3 specific DNA sequence and cloned into pBlue-Script SK. The cloned fragment was labeled through reverse transcription using a T3/T7 Reverse Transcription Kit from Ambion and used as a probe for Northern blot analysis of mUCP3 expression. The mouse multiple tissue blots were purchased from Clontech and Northern analysis was performed using a Northern Max kit purchased from Ambion. Northern analysis revealed specific enhanced expression in heart and especially skeletal muscle tissues as compared with negligble expression in brain, spleen, lung, liver, kidney and testis tissues.

3. Protocol for high throughput mUCP3a - antibody binding assay

A. Reagents:

Neutralite Avidin: 20 μg/ml in PBS.

Blocking buffer: 5% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20 in PBS; 1 hour at room temperature.

Assay Buffer: 100 mM KCl, 20 mM HEPES pH 7.6, 1 mM MgCl₂, 1% glycerol, 0.5% NP-40, 50 mM b-mercaptoethanol, 1 mg/ml BSA, cocktail of protease inhibitors.

³³P mUCP3a polypeptide 10x stock: 10⁻⁸-10⁻⁶M “cold” mUCP3 supplemented with 200,000-250,000 cpm of labeled mUCP3a (Beckman counter). Place in the 4° C. microfridge during screening.

Protease inhibitor cocktail (1000X): 10 mg Trypsin Inhibitor (BMB # 109894), 10 mg Aprotinin (BMB # 236624), 25 mg Benzamidine (Sigma # B-6506), 25 mg Leupeptin (BMB # 1017128), 10 mg APMSF (BMB # 917575), and 2 mM NaVO₃(Sigma # S-6508) in 10 ml of PBS.

mUCP3-specific antibody: 10⁻⁷-10⁻⁵M biotinylated antibody in PBS.

B. Preparation of assay plates:

Coat with 120 μl of stock N-Avidin per well overnight at 4° C.

Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS.

Block with 150 μl of blocking buffer.

Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS.

C. Assay:

Add 40 μl assay buffer/well.

Add 10 μl compound or extract.

Add 10 μl ³³P-mUCP3a (20-25,000 cpm/0.1-10 pmoles/well=10 ⁻⁹-10⁻⁷ M final conc).

Shake at 25° C. for 15 minutes.

Incubate additional 45 minutes at 25° C.

Add 40 μM biotinylated antibody (0.1-10 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer)

Incubate 1 hour at room temperature.

Stop the reaction by washing 4 times with 200 μM PBS.

Add 150 μM scintillation cocktail.

Count in Topcount.

D. Controls for all assays (located on each plate):

a. Non-specific binding

b. Soluble (non-biotinylated antibody) at 80% inhibition.

All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

6 2782 base pairs nucleic acid double linear cDNA unknown 1 GTCAGCTGGT GCACAGGGCC AGTGCCGAGC CAGGGACAGC AGAGACAACA GTGAATGGTG 60 AGGCCCGGCC GTCAGATCCT GCTGCTACCT AATGGAGTGG AGCCTTAGGG TGGCCCTGCA 120 CTACCCAACC TTGGCTAGAC GCACAGCTTC CTCCCTGAAC TGAAGCAAAA GATTGCCAGG 180 CAAGCTCTCT CCTCGGACCT CCATAGGCAG CAAAGGAACC AGGCCCATTC CCCGGGACCA 240 TGGTTGGACT TCAGCCCTCC GAAGTGCCTC CCACAACGGT TGTGAAGTTC CTGGGGGCCG 300 GCACTGCGGC CTGTTTTGCG GACCTCCTCA CTTTTCCCCT GGACACCGCC AAGGTCCGTC 360 TGCAGATCCA AGGGGAGAAC CCAGGGGCTC AGAGCGTGCA GTACCGCGGT GTGCTGGGTA 420 CCATCCTGAC TATGGTGCGC ACAGAGGGTC CCCGCAGCCC CTACAGCGGA CTGGTCGCTG 480 GCCTGCACCG CCAGATGAGT TTTGCCTCCA TTCGAATTGG CCTCTACGAC TCTGTCAAGC 540 AGTTCTACAC CCCCAAGGGA GCGGACCACT CCAGCGTCGC CATCAGGATT CTGGCAGGCT 600 GCACGACAGG AGCCATGGCA GTGACCTGCG CCCAGCCCAC GGATGTGGTG AAGGTCCGAT 660 TTCAAGCCAT GATACGCCTG GGAACTGGAG GAGAGAGGAA ATACAGAGGG ACTATGGATG 720 CCTACAGAAC CATCGCCAGG GAGGAAGGAG TCAGGGGCCT GTGGAAAGGG ACTTGGCCCA 780 ACATCACAAG AAATGCCATT GTCAACTGTG CTGAGATGGT GACCTACGAC ATCATCAAGG 840 AGAAGTTGCT GGAGTCTCAC CTGTTTACTG ACAACTTCCC CTGTCACTTT GTCTCTGCCT 900 TTGGAGCTGG CTTCTGTGCC ACAGTGGTGG CCTCCCCGGT GGATGTGGTA AAGACCCGAT 960 ACATGAACGC TCCCCTAGGC AGGTACCGCA GCCCTCTGCA CTGTATGCTG AAGATGGCGG 1020 CTCAGGAGGG ACCCACGGCC TTCTACAAAG GATTTGTGCC CTCCTTTCTG CGTCTGGGAG 1080 CTTGGAACGT GATGATGTTT GTAACATATG AGCAACTGAA GAGGGCCTTA ATGAAAGTCC 1140 AGGTACTGCG GGAATCTCCG TTTTGAACAA GGCAAGCAGG CTGCCTGAAA CAGAACAAAG 1200 CGTCTCTGCC CTGGGGACAC AGGCCCACAC GGTCCAAAAC CCTGCACTGC TGCTGACACG 1260 AGAAACTGAA CTAAAAGAGG AGAGTTTTAG TCCTCCGTGT TTCGTCCTAA AACACCTCTG 1320 TTTTGCACTG ACCTGATGGG AAATAAATTA TATTAATTTT TAAACCCCTT CCGGTTGGAT 1380 GCCTAATATT TAGGCAAGAG ACAACAAAGA AAACCAGAGT CAACTCCCTT GAAATGTAGG 1440 AATAAAGGAT GCATAATAAA CAGGAAAGGC ACAGGTTTTG AGAAGATCAG CCCACAGTGT 1500 TGTCCTTGAA TCAAACAAAA TGGTCGGAGG AACCCTTCGG CTTCAGCACA AAGAGGTGAC 1560 TACAGCCTTC TGGTCACCAG ATGACTCCGC CCCTCTGTAA TGAGTCTGCC AAGTAGACTC 1620 TATCAAGATT CTGGGGAAAG GAGAAAGAAC ACATTGATAC TGCACAAATG AGTGGTGCTG 1680 GGCCCACCGA GGACACTGGA GGATGGAGCG TGATCTGGGA TAACAGTCCT TCTCTGTCTG 1740 CCTCATCAGG GTGTTGGGAA GATAGAAAGC GAAGCAGACA TGGAAGCACT TCCTAACAAG 1800 GCCTGTCATC GTCATCATCT ACAAATGTAA GCCTGAGGAC AATGTTTTAG GAGAGATTCT 1860 GTCCAGAGAA GTAGTTTGAG GAAAATGCAG TTTGTAGTGG TAAAGCCATG CACACCTGGA 1920 CTGCATGGTA AGGACCAGGG GTGACGGAAG CCATGGGGAT CCGGTGCCTG GTAACATCAA 1980 AGGGCTGTGG GGGGGGGGGG GCACTGCCTG TCCATCAGTT CAAAGCAGCA GGACTCAGAA 2040 TCTCCACCTT AGGGCAAGAA CGAGAACAGC TGCTCTTCTG CCTTCTCTCT CGGAGGTTTT 2100 CTCATCTCAG GGTCCTACCT GCCAGGCTCC TGACCAGCTC CACCTGCCCA CACTTCCTCC 2160 TGCTCTCGCT GCCTTTGGCT GCAGAGCCTT TGCTCCTCCT GTTAAGCCTT CAGTCTTCCA 2220 TCTGCAAAAG GGAGGGCAAA GCACAGGACC AACTTCCAAG CTTAAAAATG CACATCTGAC 2280 AACAAAATGG CTCAGTGGGG TCCATTCATG GGACCCACAT GGTGGAAGGA CAGAATGGAC 2340 TCTTGCAAAT TGTCCTCTGA CCTCCATTTG AGCGCCCTAT ACATGTGACT GTACATATGT 2400 ACAAACACGA TAAAGATGGA AACACATGTA AAAACATAAA AATAAAAAGT TGTACTGGAT 2460 GTGGTGGTTT GAATGAGATG TTCCTCGTGT CTCGGGCATT TGAAGACTTG CTCCCCAGTT 2520 GTTGGCGGCT GTTTGGGGAG GCTTAGAAGA TGTGGCCTTT TGGGAAGCAG GGTGTCATTG 2580 AGGACTGGCT TGGAGAGCCT AAAGATCCGA GGCACTCCCA GTTTCTCTGG TTTTTCATTT 2640 TGAGGTGTGA GGTCTTATTG GCTGCACCAG TCTCCATGCC TGTCTGTTGC CCGGCCTCCT 2700 CACCATGATG GACTTTTATC TCTCTGTACT TGTAAGCCCC AAATAAACCT TCCATCTGTG 2760 AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AA 2782 308 amino acids amino acid single linear peptide unknown 2 Met Val Gly Leu Gln Pro Ser Glu Val Pro Pro Thr Thr Val Val Lys 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Gly Ala Gly Thr Ala Ala Cys Phe Ala Asp Leu Leu Thr Phe 20 25 30 Pro Leu Asp Thr Ala Lys Val Arg Leu Gln Ile Gln Gly Glu Asn Pro 35 40 45 Gly Ala Gln Ser Val Gln Tyr Arg Gly Val Leu Gly Thr Ile Leu Thr 50 55 60 Met Val Arg Thr Glu Gly Pro Arg Ser Pro Tyr Ser Gly Leu Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Leu His Arg Gln Met Ser Phe Ala Ser Ile Arg Ile Gly Leu Tyr 85 90 95 Asp Ser Val Lys Gln Phe Tyr Thr Pro Lys Gly Ala Asp His Ser Ser 100 105 110 Val Ala Ile Arg Ile Leu Ala Gly Cys Thr Thr Gly Ala Met Ala Val 115 120 125 Thr Cys Ala Gln Pro Thr Asp Val Val Lys Val Arg Phe Gln Ala Met 130 135 140 Ile Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Glu Arg Lys Tyr Arg Gly Thr Met Asp 145 150 155 160 Ala Tyr Arg Thr Ile Ala Arg Glu Glu Gly Val Arg Gly Leu Trp Lys 165 170 175 Gly Thr Trp Pro Asn Ile Thr Arg Asn Ala Ile Val Asn Cys Ala Glu 180 185 190 Met Val Thr Tyr Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Lys Leu Leu Glu Ser His Leu 195 200 205 Phe Thr Asp Asn Phe Pro Cys His Phe Val Ser Ala Phe Gly Ala Gly 210 215 220 Phe Cys Ala Thr Val Val Ala Ser Pro Val Asp Val Val Lys Thr Arg 225 230 235 240 Tyr Met Asn Ala Pro Leu Gly Arg Tyr Arg Ser Pro Leu His Cys Met 245 250 255 Leu Lys Met Ala Ala Gln Glu Gly Pro Thr Ala Phe Tyr Lys Gly Phe 260 265 270 Val Pro Ser Phe Leu Arg Leu Gly Ala Trp Asn Val Met Met Phe Val 275 280 285 Thr Tyr Glu Gln Leu Lys Arg Ala Leu Met Lys Val Gln Val Leu Arg 290 295 300 Glu Ser Pro Phe 305 1949 base pairs nucleic acid double linear cDNA unknown 3 GTCAGCTGGT GCACAGGGCC AGTGCCGAGC CAGGGACAGC AGAGACAACA GTGAATGGTG 60 AGGCCCGGCC GTCAGATCCT GCTGCTACCT AATGGAGTGG AGCCTTAGGG TGGCCCTGCA 120 CTACCCAACC TTGGCTAGAC GCACAGCTTC CTCCCTGAAC TGAAGCAAAA GATTGCCAGG 180 CAAGCTCTCT CCTCGGACCT CCATAGGCAG CAAAGGAACC AGGCCCATTC CCCGGGACCA 240 TGGTTGGACT TCAGCCCTCC GAAGTGCCTC CCACAACGGT TGTGAAGTTC CTGGGGGCCG 300 GCACTGCGGC CTGTTTTGCG GACCTCCTCA CTTTTCCCCT GGACACCGCC AAGGTCCGTC 360 TGCAGATCCA AGGGGAGAAC CCAGGGGCTC AGAGCGTGCA GTACCGCGGT GTGCTGGGTA 420 CCATCCTGAC TATGGTGCGC ACAGAGGGTC CCCGCAGCCC CTACAGCGGA CTGGTCGCTG 480 GCCTGCACCG CCAGATGAGT TTTGCCTCCA TTCGAATTGG CCTCTACGAC TCTGTCAAGC 540 AGTTCTACAC CCCCAAGGGA GCGGACCACT CCAGCGTCGC CATCAGGATT CTGGCAGGCT 600 GCACGACAGG AGCCATGGCA GTGACCTGCG CCCAGCCCAC GGATGTGGTG AAGGTCCGAT 660 TTCAAGCCAT GATACGCCTG GGAACTGGAG GAGAGAGGAA ATACAGAGGG ACTATGGATG 720 CCTACAGAAC CATCGCCAGG GAGGAAGGAG TCAGGGGCCT GTGGAAAGGG ACTTGGCCCA 780 ACATCACAAG AAATGCCATT GTCAACTGTG CTGAGATGGT GACCTACGAC ATCATCAAGG 840 AGAAGTTGCT GGAGTCTCAC CTGTTTACTG ACAACTTCCC CTGTCACTTT GTCTCTGCCT 900 TTGGAGCTGG CTTCTGTGCC ACAGTGGTGG CCTCCCCGGT GGATGTGGTA AAGACCCGAT 960 ACATGAACGC TCCCCTAGGC AGGTACCGCA GCCCTCTGCA CTGTATGCTG AAGATGGTGG 1020 CTCAGGAGGG ACCCACGGCC TTCTACAAAG GATTTGTGCC CTCCTTTCTG CGTCTGGGAG 1080 CTTGGAACGT GATGATGTTT GTAACATATG AGCAACTGAA GAGGGCCTTA ATGAAAGTCC 1140 AGGGTGTTGG GAAGATAGAA AGCGAAGCAG ACATGGAAGC ACTTCCTAAC AAGGCCTGTC 1200 ATCGTCATCA TCTACAAATG GCAAGAACGA GAACAGCTGC TCTTCTGCCC TCTCTCTCGG 1260 AGGTTTTCTC ATCTCAGGGT CCTACCTGCC AGGCTCCTGA CCAGCTCCAC CTGCCCACAC 1320 TTCCTCCTGC TCTCGCTGCC TTTGGCTGCA GAGCCTTTGC TCCTCCTGTT AAGCCTTCAG 1380 TCTTCCATCT GCAAAAGGGA GGGCAAAGCA CAGGACCAAC TTCCAAGCTT AAAAATGCAC 1440 ATCTGACAAC AAAATGGCTC AGTGGGGTCC ATTCATGGGA CCCACATGGT GGAAGGACAG 1500 AATGGACTCT TGCAAATTGT CCTCTGACCT CCATTTGAGC GCCCTATACA TGTGACTGTA 1560 CATATGTACA AACACGATAA AGATGGAAAC ACATGTAAAA ACATAAAAAT AAAAAGTTGT 1620 ACTGGATGTG GTGGTTTGAA TGAGATGTTC CTCGTGTCTC GGGCATTTGA AGACTTGCTC 1680 CCCAGTTGTT GGCGGCTGTT TGGGGAGGCT TAGAAGATGT GGCCTTTTGG GAAGCAGGGT 1740 GTCATTGAGG ACTGGCTTGG AGAGCCTAAA GATCCGAGGC ACTCCCAGTT TCTCTGGTTT 1800 TTCATTTTGA GGTGTGAGGT CTTATTGGCT GCACCAGTCT CCATGCCTGT CTGTTGCCCG 1860 GCCTCCTCAC CATGATGGAC TTTTATCTCT CTGTACTTGT AAGCCCCAAA TAAACCTTCC 1920 ATCTGTGAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAA 1949 432 amino acids amino acid single linear peptide unknown 4 Met Val Gly Leu Gln Pro Ser Glu Val Pro Pro Thr Thr Val Val Lys 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Gly Ala Gly Thr Ala Ala Cys Phe Ala Asp Leu Leu Thr Phe 20 25 30 Pro Leu Asp Thr Ala Lys Val Arg Leu Gln Ile Gln Gly Glu Asn Pro 35 40 45 Gly Ala Gln Ser Val Gln Tyr Arg Gly Val Leu Gly Thr Ile Leu Thr 50 55 60 Met Val Arg Thr Glu Gly Pro Arg Ser Pro Tyr Ser Gly Leu Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Leu His Arg Gln Met Ser Phe Ala Ser Ile Arg Ile Gly Leu Tyr 85 90 95 Asp Ser Val Lys Gln Phe Tyr Thr Pro Lys Gly Ala Asp His Ser Ser 100 105 110 Val Ala Ile Arg Ile Leu Ala Gly Cys Thr Thr Gly Ala Met Ala Val 115 120 125 Thr Cys Ala Gln Pro Thr Asp Val Val Lys Val Arg Phe Gln Ala Met 130 135 140 Ile Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Glu Arg Lys Tyr Arg Gly Thr Met Asp 145 150 155 160 Ala Tyr Arg Thr Ile Ala Arg Glu Glu Gly Val Arg Gly Leu Trp Lys 165 170 175 Gly Thr Trp Pro Asn Ile Thr Arg Asn Ala Ile Val Asn Cys Ala Glu 180 185 190 Met Val Thr Tyr Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Lys Leu Leu Glu Ser His Leu 195 200 205 Phe Thr Asp Asn Phe Pro Cys His Phe Val Ser Ala Phe Gly Ala Gly 210 215 220 Phe Cys Ala Thr Val Val Ala Ser Pro Val Asp Val Val Lys Thr Arg 225 230 235 240 Tyr Met Asn Ala Pro Leu Gly Arg Tyr Arg Ser Pro Leu His Cys Met 245 250 255 Leu Lys Met Val Ala Gln Glu Gly Pro Thr Ala Phe Tyr Lys Gly Phe 260 265 270 Val Pro Ser Phe Leu Arg Leu Gly Ala Trp Asn Val Met Met Phe Val 275 280 285 Thr Tyr Glu Gln Leu Lys Arg Ala Leu Met Lys Val Gln Gly Val Gly 290 295 300 Lys Ile Glu Ser Glu Ala Asp Met Glu Ala Leu Pro Asn Lys Ala Cys 305 310 315 320 His Arg His His Leu Gln Met Ala Arg Thr Arg Thr Ala Ala Leu Leu 325 330 335 Pro Ser Leu Ser Glu Val Phe Ser Ser Gln Gly Pro Thr Cys Gln Ala 340 345 350 Pro Asp Gln Leu His Leu Pro Thr Leu Pro Pro Ala Leu Ala Ala Phe 355 360 365 Gly Cys Arg Ala Phe Ala Pro Pro Val Lys Pro Ser Val Phe His Leu 370 375 380 Gln Lys Gly Gly Gln Ser Thr Gly Pro Thr Ser Lys Leu Lys Asn Ala 385 390 395 400 His Leu Thr Thr Lys Trp Leu Ser Gly Val His Ser Trp Asp Pro His 405 410 415 Gly Gly Arg Thr Glu Trp Thr Leu Ala Asn Cys Pro Leu Thr Ser Ile 420 425 430 1777 base pairs nucleic acid double linear cDNA unknown 5 GTCAGCTGGT GCACAGGGCC AGTGCCGAGC CAGGGACAGC AGAGACAACA GTGAATGGTG 60 AGGCCCGGCC GTCAGATCCT GCTGCTACCT AATGGAGTGG AGCCTTAGGG TGGCCCTGCA 120 CTACCCAACC TTGGCTAGAC GCACAGCTTC CTCCCTGAAC TGAAGCAAAA GATTGCCAGG 180 CAAGCTCTCT CCTCGGACCT CCATAGGCAG CAAAGGAACC AGGCCCATTC CCCGGGACCA 240 TGGTTGGACT TCAGCCCTCC GAAGTGCCTC CCACAACGGT TGTGAAGTTC CTGGGGGCCG 300 GCACTGCGGC CTGTTTTGCG GACCTCCTCA CTTTTCCCCT GGACACCGCC AAGGTCCGTC 360 TGCAGATCCA AGGGGAGAAC CCAGGGGCTC AGAGCGTGCA GTACCGCGGT GTGCTGGGTA 420 CCATCCTGAC TATGGTGCGC ACAGAGGGTC CCCGCAGCCC CTACAGCGGA CTGGTCGCTG 480 GCCTGCACCG CCAGATGAGT TTTGCCTCCA TTCGAATTGG CCTCTACGAC TCTGTCAAGC 540 AGTTCTACAC CCCCAAGGGA GCGGACCACT CCAGCGTCGC CATCAGGATT CTGGCAGGCT 600 GCACGACAGG AGCCATGGCA GTGACCTGCG CCCAGCCCAC GGATGTGGTG AAGGTCCGAT 660 TTCAAGCCAT GATACGCCTG GGAACTGGAG GAGAGAGGAA ATACAGAGGG ACTATGGATG 720 CCTACAGAAC CATCGCCAGG GAGGAAGGAG TCAGGGGCCT GTGGAAAGGG ACTTGGCCCA 780 ACATCACAAG AAATGCCATT GTCAACTGTG CTGAGATGGT GACCTACGAC ATCATCAAGG 840 AGAAGTTGCT GGAGTCTCAC CTGTTTACTG ACAACTTCCC CTGTCACTTT GTCTCTGCCT 900 TTGGAGCTGG CTTCTGTGCC ACAGTGGTGG CCTCCCCGGT GGATGTGGTA AAGACCCGAT 960 ACATGAACGC TCCCCTAGGC AGGTACCGCA GCAGGACTCA GAATCTTTAG GGAATTGTTA 1020 GGACTGGTAA AAGAATTTCC ACCTTAGGGC AAGAACGAGA ACAGCTGCTC TTCTGCCTTC 1080 TCTCTCGGAG GTTTTCTCAT CTCAGGGTCC TACCTGCCAG GCTCCTGACC AGCTCCACCT 1140 GCCCACACTT CCTCCTGCTC TCGCTGCCTT TGGCTGCAGA GCCTTTGCTC CTCCTGTTAA 1200 GCCTTCAGTC TTCCATCTGC AAAAGGGAGG GCAAAGCACA GGACCAACTT CCAAGCTTAA 1260 AAATGCACAT CTGACAACAA AATGGCTCAG TGGGGTCCAT TCATGGGACC CACATGGTGG 1320 AAGGACAGAA TGGACTCTTG CAAATTGTCC TCTGACCTCC ATTTGAGCGC CCTATACATG 1380 TGACTGTACA TATGTACAAA CACGATAAAG ATGGAAACAC ATGTAAAAAC ATAAAAATAA 1440 AAAGTTGTAC TGGATGTGGT GGTTTGAATG AGATGTTCCT CGTGTCTCGG GCATTTGAAG 1500 ACTTGCTCCC CAGTTGTTGG CGGCTGTTTG GGGAGGCTTA GAAGATGTGG CCTTTTGGGA 1560 AGCAGGGTGT CATTGAGGAC TGGCTTGGAG AGCCTAAAGA TCCGAGGCAC TCCCAGTTTC 1620 TCTGGTTTTT CATTTTGAGG TGTGAGGTCT TATTGGCTGC ACCAGTCTCC ATGCCTGTCT 1680 GTTGCCCGGC CTCCTCACCA TGATGGACTT TTATCTCTCT GTACTTGTAA GCCCCAAATA 1740 AACCTTCCAT CTGTGAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA 1777 256 amino acids amino acid single linear peptide unknown 6 Met Val Gly Leu Gln Pro Ser Glu Val Pro Pro Thr Thr Val Val Lys 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Gly Ala Gly Thr Ala Ala Cys Phe Ala Asp Leu Leu Thr Phe 20 25 30 Pro Leu Asp Thr Ala Lys Val Arg Leu Gln Ile Gln Gly Glu Asn Pro 35 40 45 Gly Ala Gln Ser Val Gln Tyr Arg Gly Val Leu Gly Thr Ile Leu Thr 50 55 60 Met Val Arg Thr Glu Gly Pro Arg Ser Pro Tyr Ser Gly Leu Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Leu His Arg Gln Met Ser Phe Ala Ser Ile Arg Ile Gly Leu Tyr 85 90 95 Asp Ser Val Lys Gln Phe Tyr Thr Pro Lys Gly Ala Asp His Ser Ser 100 105 110 Val Ala Ile Arg Ile Leu Ala Gly Cys Thr Thr Gly Ala Met Ala Val 115 120 125 Thr Cys Ala Gln Pro Thr Asp Val Val Lys Val Arg Phe Gln Ala Met 130 135 140 Ile Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Glu Arg Lys Tyr Arg Gly Thr Met Asp 145 150 155 160 Ala Tyr Arg Thr Ile Ala Arg Glu Glu Gly Val Arg Gly Leu Trp Lys 165 170 175 Gly Thr Trp Pro Asn Ile Thr Arg Asn Ala Ile Val Asn Cys Ala Glu 180 185 190 Met Val Thr Tyr Asp Ile Ile Lys Glu Lys Leu Leu Glu Ser His Leu 195 200 205 Phe Thr Asp Asn Phe Pro Cys His Phe Val Ser Ala Phe Gly Ala Gly 210 215 220 Phe Cys Ala Thr Val Val Ala Ser Pro Val Asp Val Val Lys Thr Arg 225 230 235 240 Tyr Met Asn Ala Pro Leu Gly Arg Tyr Arg Ser Arg Thr Gln Asn Leu 245 250 255 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6; a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide consisting of a fragment of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6, which consists of at least 8 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6, which consecutive amino acids are not found in hUCP3, and which polypeptide comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of amino acids 3-12, 37-58, 100-115, 144-158, 182-198, 198-209, 242-266, 268-290, and 297-308 of SEQ ID NO:2; and a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:2, amino acids 242-266.
 2. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising at least 10 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or
 6. 3. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising at least 25 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO;2, 4, or
 6. 4. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising at least 50 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or
 6. 5. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 3-12.
 6. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 37-58.
 7. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 100-115.
 8. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 144-158.
 9. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 182-198.
 10. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 198-209.
 11. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 242-266.
 12. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 268-290.
 13. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, said fragment comprising SEQ ID NO:2, residues 297-308.
 14. An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: a polynucleotide comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, 3 or 5; a polynucleotide consisting of a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1, 3 or 5, which comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 246-275, 348-413, 537-584, 783-833, 831-866, 953-1037, 1041-1109, and 1128-1163 of SEQ ID NO:1; and a polynucleotide comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 963-1037.
 15. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO;1, nucleotides 246-275.
 16. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 348-413.
 17. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 537-584.
 18. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 783-833.
 19. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 831-866.
 20. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 963-1037.
 21. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 1041-1109.
 22. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, nucleotides 1128-1163.
 23. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1, 3 or
 5. 24. The polynucleotide of claim 23, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:1.
 25. The polynucleotide of claim 23, comprising a strand of SEQ ID NO:3.
 26. The polynucleotide of claim 23, comprising an isolated strand of SEQ ID NO:5.
 27. A cell not in a human comprising a polynucleotide according to claim
 1. 28. A cell not in a human comprising a polynucleotide according to claim
 14. 29. A cell not in a human comprising a polynucleotide according to claim
 23. 30. A method of making a polypeptide said method comprising the steps of: introducing an isolated polynucleotide according to claim 1 into a host cell or cellular extract, incubating said host cell or extract under conditions whereby said polynucleotide is expressed as a transcript and said transcript is expressed as a translation product comprising said polypeptide, and isolating said translation product.
 31. A method of modulating a cell comprising UCP3 gene, said method comprising the step of introducing into said cell an isolated polynucleotide according to claim 1, whereby the function and/or structure of the UCP3 gene is modulated.
 32. A method of modulating a cell comprising a UCP3 gene, said method comprising the step of introducing into said cell an isolated polynucleotide according to claim 14, whereby the function and/or structure of the UCP3 gene is modulated.
 33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the isolated polynucleotide is a knock-out or knock-in construct. 